Examining the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) on the approved conditions by Health Canada (below) along with other conditions HBOT may be medical treatment option (Lyme Chronic Disease).
Hyperbaric Oxygen: How it works
Blood is comprised of red blood cells, containing hemoglobin and serum, a clear, colourless fluid. Oxygen is normally transported to the tissues by the red blood cells, by attaching to the hemoglobin. In patients with severe atherosclerosis and blood vessels partially or fully occluded by plaque, passage of red blood cells may be blocked. This results in tissue ischemia (lack of blood) and hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy saturates both the red blood cell hemoglobin and the serum with oxygen. Oxygen saturated serum can traverse some of these occluded vessels and supply badly needed oxygen to these tissues. While in a hyperbaric chamber, oxygen saturated serum can support life, even in the absence of hemoglobin. Patients with severe anemia (blood loss and/or low hemoglobin) can be successfully kept alive in a hyperbaric chamber until matched blood becomes available.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is recognized by Health Canada, all provincial Ministries of Health and internationally for of the following conditions:
- Decompression sickness
- Air or gas embolism
- Arterial Insufficiencies:
- Selected Problem Wounds (Diabetic ulcers)
- Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (sudden blindness)
- Osteomyelitis (bone infections)
- Delayed Radiation Injuries
- Compromised grafts and flaps
- Sudden hearing loss
- Crush injuries
- Acute thermal burns
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Gas gangrene
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections (flesh-eating disease)
- Severe anemia
- Intracranial abscess